Packaging arrangement

ABSTRACT

A packaging arrangement, the arrangement characterized by: an outer carton ( 12 ); a plurality of supporting inserts ( 14, 16, 18 ) within the carton, the inserts being supported against inner walls of the carton, the inserts being maintained in a spaced apart relationship with one another and having one or more passage means therein ( 20, 22, 30 ) each passage means being adapted to provide support for articles held in the packaging arrangement and one or more of the inserts ( 14, 16 ) being adapted to hold and provide support for articles of different dimensions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging arrangement useful in thetransportation of glass, and other delicate containers. In particularthe packaging arrangement of the present invention finds application inthe packaging for transport of wine bottles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The transport of glass bottles or containers containing liquids poseswell known problems. Such containers are relatively heavy andsusceptible to breakage. To overcome the problems associated with thedelicacy of glass a number of packaging solutions have been devised. Inthe case of wine, cases of 12 bottles in cardboard cartons can betransported. Typically a flimsy card web will be placed betweenneighbouring bottles to ensure that they do not damage one another.Alternatively, expanded polystyrene packaging has been used for bottles.

In the situation where cardboard carton are used to transport bottles itis the experience of the inventor that the packaging is inadequate in anumber of situations and that breakages occur all too readily. Abreakage is not only a costly exercise for the owner of the product butis also undesirable from the point of view of those transporting theproduct. Polystyrene is also undesirable from an environmentalperspective and, in some areas of the world, the environmentalundesirability of the material is likely to result in an increasedmaterial cost as a result of government taxes or levies imposed on suchmaterials.

Specific difficulties arise in the transport of small quantities ofwines. The products are typically of high value and mixed selections areoften packaged together for transport. Thus packaging has to be adaptedto take bottles of varying sizes and to be able to protect them frominjury.

The present invention is addressed to this situation and is directed toa packaging arrangement suitable for use with bottles and likecontainers that provides support against movement during transport forthese containers. The packaging arrangement has also been designed totake into account the need to minimise space and weight occupied byitems to be transported, whilst being able to be manufactured frommaterials such as cardboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention there isprovided a packaging arrangement for use in the packaging of bottles,the arrangement including

an outer carton;

a plurality of supporting inserts within the carton, the inserts beingsupported against inner walls of the carton, the inserts beingvertically spaced from each other and having one or more passage meanstherein, each passage means being adapted to provide support forarticles held in the packaging arrangement and one or more of theinserts being adapted to hold and provide support for articles ofdifferent dimensions.

Preferably, the inserts are able to be manufactured from a foldablecardboard blank.

Thus, the carton of the present invention provides a plurality ofseparate inserts each of which supports a the article. By maintaining avertically spaced arrangement the inserts can provide support forarticles held in the carton at spaced apart points on the article. Inthe case of a wine bottle the inserts provide support against excessivemovement along the length of the bottle. Importantly, the packagingarrangement also includes one or more inserts which are adapted for usewith articles of different sizes. It is common for bottles to betransported in groups and in some cases in mixed groups. In thesesituations the inserts of the invention can be used to support severaldifferent shapes of bottle, for example the one carton may contain‘Chardonnay’ type bottles, together with ‘burgundy’ type bottles and soon.

The ability to adapt to differently sized articles whilst maintainingsupport for those articles is can be achieved by including in theinserts a plurality of tab portions which extend into the passages andwhich have associated lines of weakness in the insert extending therefrom. Thus, the passage can be manufactured to a predetermined minimumsize and, where an oversize or larger article is placed in the passagethe tab portions are deflected to allow the article through the passagebut coontie to provide support for the article.

In the case of wine bottles, such deflecting tabs can be provided inthose inserts which would support the body of the bottle, that is wherethe bulk of the bottle is located.

Preferably, the packaging arrangement is provided with means to maintainthe inserts in a spaced apart relation.

Advantageously, a packaging arrangement in accordance with the inventionfor a plurality of wine bottles might include:

an outer carton;

a first, lowermost insert consisting of a foldable cardboard blank,which folds to produce a structure having a pair of parallel channels,an uppermost surface of each channel including three cut out aperturesadapted to receive a wine bottle body therein, the cut out apertureseach having a plurality of tab portions which extend into the passagesand which have associated lines of weakness extending into the inserttherefrom, the cut out portions serving to bear against and support eachbottle therein and being able to deflect to receive bottles of largerdiameter;

a centre insert consisting of a foldable cardboard blank, which folds toproduce a structure having a pair of parallel channels, one surface ofeach channel including three cut out apertures, the cut out apertureseach having a plurality of tab portions which extend into the passagesand which have associated lines of weakness extending into the inserttherefrom, the cut out portions serving to bear against and support eachbottle therein and being able to deflect to receive bottles of largerdiameter, each cut out aperture having a respective bottle neck locatingaperture on an opposing surface of the channel, and

an uppermost insert consisting of a foldable cardboard blank, whichfolds to produce a structure having a pair of parallel channels eachchannel including three cut out apertures serving as bottle necklocating apertures;

wherein the inserts are arranged such that each of the three cut outapertures adapted to receive a wine bottle body therein in the lowermostand centre inserts are placed opposing one another and each of thebottle neck locating apertures in the centre and uppermost inserts areplaced opposing one another.

Conveniently, in such an arrangement the lowermost and centre insertsmay share a common geometry but be placed in mirror image positions inuse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of the example asillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a packaging arrangement inaccordance with a first aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the in plan view and in side cross-sectional view onesection of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the packagingarrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 represents a first cross-sectional view of a carton including apackaging arrangement as shown in FIG. 1 used for packaging wine bottlesof a first size;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second cross-sectional side view of the carton andpackaging arrangement of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 shows the carton and packaging arrangement of FIG. 4 used forpackaging wine bottles of a second size.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is a packaging insert 10 formed in accordancewith the present invention. In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the insert 10 is shownin an outer carton 12 housing various wine bottles.

The packaging insert arrangements 10 comprises three inserts, a lowermost insert 14, a centre insert 16 and an uppermost insert 18. Bycareful inspection of the drawings it can be seen that the centre insert16 and the lower most insert 14 share a common geometry and are simplyplaced in mirror image positions. For the sake of convenience likenumerals will be used to indicate like parts in respect of these items.

From inspection of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 it can also be seen that the inserts14, 16 and 18 are a close fit within the outer carton 12. In theparticular embodiment described the package as a whole is designed fortransport of six wine bottles. It will be appreciated that the inventionis not to be limited to any package of this particular size orarrangement of articles to be carried. The invention embraces within itsscope an infinite variety of potential geometries and arrangement ofpackaging. Specifically, the packaging insert of the present inventionis readily adapted for the packaging of smaller numbers of bottles or,of single bottles.

Each of the inserts 14, 16 and 18 are formed from foldable cardboardblanks. Apertures at appropriate points are cut in the cardboard blanksto form various cut out sections of the inserts. The lowermost andcentre inserts 14 and 16 are each folded to form a pair of parallelchannels extending generally horizontally. A cardboard blank is foldedso as to produce the four sided channels with a double interior 17 walland one generally horizontal surface having a double layer 19. In thecase of the lowermost insert 14 this double layer 19 is formed on thebase of the channel, whereas in the centre most insert 16 the doublelayer is positioned so as to be the upper surface of the insert, as canbe seen in FIG. 3.

A series of first apertures are provided in the cardboard blank so as toproduce an array of six apertures 20 which appear in the base of thelowermost insert 14 and in the upper surface of the centre insert 16.The first apertures 20 serve in the centre most insert as bottlelocating apertures as can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The firstapertures 20 are relatively small and are sized to fit comfortablyaround the neck of all commonly used wine bottle types.

On that portion of the foldable cardboard blank forming the upper mostsurface of the insert 14, and the lower most surface of the centreinsert 16, a further series of second apertures have been cut. Theselarger, second apertures, 22 are shaped so as to be able to receive thebody portion of a wine bottle, as shown in FIG. 6. In the foldedposition illustrated in FIG. 1 the first and second apertures 20,22 arecoincident. Moreover, as the lowermost insert 14 and the centre insert16 are mirror images the second apertures of each insert are arrangedopposing each other in a spaced apart arrangement on the bottle.

Each second aperture 22 further include tab portions 24 which extendinto the aperture 22. Extending from corners of the tab portions 24 intothe body of the insert 14, 16 are lines of weakness 26. The lines ofweakness 26 enable the tab portions 24 to be deflected when the needarises such that the apertures 22 are able to receive wine bottles of awider diameter for example as shown in FIG. 4. As the tab portions 24are deflected, the aperture 22 maintains contact with any bottleinserted into the aperture, such that the position of the bottle ismaintained.

The apertures 20 and 22 provide together a passage 25 extending throughthe arrangement of inserts into which a bottle can be received.

The tab portions 24 further provide, to some extent at least a mechanismto absorb any excessive movement which might otherwise be transmitted tothe bottle. It is also important to note that the support provided tothe bottle by the apertures 22 and tab portions 24 occurs both in thelowermost insert 14 and also in the centre insert 16, that is the bottleis supported at various points along its length.

The uppermost insert 18 also consists of a cardboard blank folded in toform two parallel channel sections. A lowermost surface of the insert 18includes downwardly extending spacers 28 which serve to maintain a spacebetween the centre insert 16 and the uppermost insert 18 in use. Inaddition, a lower most surface of the insert 18 includes a number ofapertures 30 which are secured around bottle necks in use as shown inFIGS. 4, 5 and 6. As a matter of convenience an uppermost surface of theinsert 18 includes a number of further apertures 32 which can be used asfinger holes for inserting and removing the insert 18.

In use, the packaging arrangement is assembled in the following manner.Firstly, the outer carton is opened, and if necessary any liners orspacing materials are placed therein. The lowermost insert is theninserted with the apertures 22 facing upwardly. At this point anybottles to be transported in the package are inserted. As has beenexplained bottles of different sizes can be placed in the same package.The tab portions 24 are deflected when the bottles are inserted.

The centre most insert 16 is then placed over the bottles, again withthe tab portions 24 being deflected to support the bottles. The centremost insert 16 is maintained in a spaced apart relationship with thelowermost insert 14 by a combination of the insert 16 being located onthe bottle by the tab portions 24 bearing against the bottle and also bythe fact that the apertures 20 around the bottle neck prevent the insert16 from sliding further down the body of the bottle.

Finally, the uppermost insert 18 is placed over the bottles, the tabportions 28 serving to maintain a distance between the centre mostinsert 16 and the uppermost insert 18.

It is thought that the centre most insert 16 provides high degree of theprotection provided by the present invention in its support againstmovement during transportation of bottles and like containers. Thisinsert fits about the body of the bottle and the junction of the neck tothe body of the bottle. This can act to secure the bottle in a fixedposition relative to the sides of the carton. The uppermost andlowermost inserts when positioned about the bottle can act to secure themiddlemost insert into a fixed position relative to the uppermost andlowermost inserts, and thereby assist in preventing movement of thebottle towards the top or the bottom of the carton.

The carton 12 can be sealed. The carton 12 is then ready fortransporting. As shown in FIG. 5 it is clear that the inserts co-operatetogether to support the bottle against movement in three dimensions bysupporting the bottle at several points around As circumference and atseveral points along its length.

Modifications and variations of the present invention such as would beapparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A packaging arrangement, the arrangementcharacterized by an outer carton (12); a plurality of supporting inserts(14, 16, 18) within the carton, the inserts being supported againstinner walls of the carton, the inserts being maintained in spaced apartrelationship with one another and having one or more passage meanstherein (20,22,30) each passage means being adapted to provide supportfor articles held in the packaging arrangement and one or more of theinserts (14,16) being adapted to hold and provide support for articlesof different dimensions, wherein at least one of the inserts includestab portion (24) adapted extending into the passage means to resilientlybear against articles located therein, and further characterized in thatthe tab portions are deflectable to adapt for use with articles ofdifferent sizes, and further characterized in that the tab portionswhich extend into the passages and which have associated lines ofweakness (26) in the insert extending into a body of the inserttherefrom, said lines of weakness (26) allowing oversize articles to beaccommodated into the passage means.
 2. A packaging arrangementaccording to claim 1 further characterized in that, the inserts are ableto be manufactured from a foldable cardboard blank.
 3. A packagingarrangement according to claim 1, further characterized in that at leaston of the inserts includes one or more spaces (28) adapted to maintain aspaced apart arrangement between adjacent inserts.
 4. A packagingarrangement, the arrangement being characterized by: an outer carton atleast one first insert (14,16) consisting of a foldable cardboard blank,which folds to produce a structure having a pair of parallel channels,one surface of each channel including a plurality of first apertures(22), the first apertures each having a plurality of tab portions (24)which extend into the passages (25) and which have associated lines ofweakness (26) extending into the insert an article therein and beingable to deflect to receive articles of larger diameter, each cut outaperture having a respective second aperture (22) on an opposing surfaceof this channel, and at least one second insert (18) consisting of afoldable cardboard blank which folds to produce a structure having apair of parallel channels each channel including a plurality ofapertures (30) serving locating apertures; wherein the inserts arearranged in the carton such that each of the first apertures and secondin the first insert and the locating apertures in the second insert arealigned.
 5. A packaging arrangement adapted for the packaging of one ormore bottles, characterized in that the arrangement includes: an outercarton (12); a first, lowermost insert (14) consisting of a foldablecardboard blank, which folds to produce a structure having a pair ofparallel channels, an uppermost surface of each channel including threecut out apertures (22) forming a passage adapted to receive a winebottle body therein, the cut out apertures each having a plurality oftab portions (24) which extend into the passages (25) and which haveassociated lines of weakness (26) extending into the insert therefrom,the cut out portions serving to bear against and support each bottletherein and being able to deflect to receive bottles of larger diameter;a center insert (16) consisting of a foldable cardboard blank, whichfolds to produce a structure having a pair of parallel channels, onesurface of each channel including three cut out apertures (22), the cutout apertures each having a plurality of tab portions (24) which extendinto the passages (25) and which have associated lines of weakness (26)extending into the insert therefrom, the cut out portions serving tobear against and support each bottle therein and being able to deflectto receive bottles of larger diameter, each cut out aperture having arespective bottle neck locating aperture (22) on an opposing surface ofthe channel; and an uppermost insert (18) consisting of a foldablecardboard blank, which folds to produce a structure having a pair ofparallel channels each channel including three cut out apertures (30)serving as bottle neck locating apertures; wherein the inserts arearranged such that each of the three cut out apertures adapted toreceive a wine bottle body therein in the lowermost and center insertsare placed opposing each other and each of the bottle neck locatingapertures in the center and uppermost inserts are placed opposing oneanother.
 6. A packaging arrangement according to claim 5, wherein thelowermost and center inserts are identical and are arranged in mirrorimage positions.
 7. A packaging arrangement according to claim 5 for thepackaging of one bottle.